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disturbance Definition

dis·turb·ance (di stʉr′bəns)

noun

    1. a disturbing or being disturbed
    2. any departure from normal
  2. anything that disturbs
  3. the state of being worried, troubled, or anxious
  4. commotion; disorder

Etymology: ME < OFr distourbance

disturbance Synonyms

disturbance

n.

  1. Interpersonal disruption

    quarrel, brawl, fray; see fight 1.

  2. Physical disruption

    commotion, disorder, turmoil, rampage, tumult, clamor, violence, restlessness, uproar, riot, upheaval, disruption, interruption, interference, agitation, turbulence, change, bother, stir, racket, ferment, furor, unruliness, spasm, convulsion, tremor, shock, explosion, eruption, quake, earthquake, tidal wave, flood, shock wave, storm, whirlwind, tempest, gale, hurricane, tornado, twister, avalanche, whirlpool, blowing, flurry, whirl, hurly-burly, ruckus*, long hot summer*; see also disorder 2, revolution 2, trouble 2.

  3. The result of disturbance

    disarrangement, irregularity, perplexity; see confusion 2.

  4. A state of worry or trouble

    agitation, distress, uneasiness; see care 2, confusion 2.

disturbance Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • quell: A large force of military were sent to quell the disturbance and the mob, having burned the effigy, dispersed.
  • minimize: Ideally ponds would be restored over a period of years to minimize disturbance.
  • minimize: Once airborne pilots should fly away from the hill so as to minimize any disturbance to stock or other users.
  • cause: The alarm can cause disturbance to people working in the Library.
  • avoid: We would ask Bird Club members to refrain from visiting the site, which is on private property, to avoid undue disturbance.
  • tolerate: In grasslands, most threatened birds appear to tolerate some disturbance from cattle.

Preposition: in

  • functioning: The inability to make a decision must be caused by an impairment of or disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain.

Adjective modifier

  • gastrointestinal: Erythromycin Common adverse effects include gastrointestinal disturbances, especially at higher doses.
  • anthropogenic: The long-term data also yield important insights into the effects of anthropogenic disturbances such as fisheries exploitation and pollution.
  • menstrual: Result(s ): Eleven women ( 68.8 % of the women with menstrual disturbances ) experienced more regular cycles during the rapy.
  • behavioral: Officers are being advised to try to " contain rather than restrain " suspects who show signs of " acute behavioral disturbance.
  • metabolic: By taking a multi-disciplinary approach to post-operative hyponatraemia the adverse effects of this metabolic disturbance could be avoided.
  • gastro-intestinal: Patients with cystic fibrosis may be more prone to gastro-intestinal motility disturbances.

Modifies a noun

  • allowance: Information on property demolition disturbance allowance The council pays all expenses relating to the move to alternative accommodation.

Noun used with modifier

  • electrolyte: A low residue diet and correction of fluid and electrolyte disturbances will be necessary.
  • ionospheric: This study reports observations of traveling ionospheric disturbances made in the UK at the time of the total solar eclipse of 11 August 1999.
  • sleep: Sleep disturbance: Keep a diary of how often your sleep is disrupted.
  • noise: There had been no letters from local residents or the police about noise disturbance or trouble at the premises.
  • conduction: Cardiovascular system Tachycardia, hypotension, at times hypertension, conduction disturbance with widening of QRS complex; syncope in association with cardiac arrest.
  • mood: The average is nine episodes of mood disturbance over a lifetime.